Front wheel locks up abruptly

[Hajoca]

I have a 98 camry, I4 NO ABS

The driverside front wheel always grabs first and skids, this has done some damage to that tire, and rotating is not the answer, any other hints on how I can fix this? I will be trying a new caliper.

[Eye8Pussies]

try that first...sounds like one of the calipers is seized up

[Hajoca]

Would the seized calliper be the opposite one?

[bigbird]

sounds like a bad caliper to me man.

[Eye8Pussies]

quite possibly as well...

it would depend on if it's a smemi-seized caliper piston or a seized slider bolt

[Fantomas]

Bleed the brakes first. If there's any air in the lines it will get hot and expand, putting more pressure on that brake.

[ghettosled]

yeah, it sounds like your PASSENGER side brake is not functioning correctly. check the lines and that caliper. or even could be the master cylinder. i had a bad master cylinder on a car i use to drive. talk about scary. how would you feel driving an '89 thunderbird headed towards a 4-way stop and your car doesnt stop, only slows because of one locked-up, screeching wheel. luckily there wasnt anyone in the intersection. i found out afterwards if i pumped the brakes several times before using them to stop the car, then there was enough pressure in the system to activate the rest of the brakes. you can also try that to see if anything improves.

[Novice_cardude]

Yeah, sounds like a problem on the passenger side, unless the driver's side locks as soon as you hit the brakes.


Could be a crimped/clogged line or hose, or seized caliper.

Also, if it's not pulling with light braking (not enough pressure on the pedal to lock up the driver's side tire) you might have an imbalance in the system. You can check for this by looking at how much pad is left on the front and rear brakes. A sure giveaway would be the right rear shoes worn more than the left rear.

[Hajoca]

Checking!